SPCA slams Namibia's plans to send 'Noah's Ark' to Cuba

SPCA slams Namibia's plans to send 'Noah's Ark' to Cuba
11 Jul 2012 07:25 - David Smith

Namibia has been condemned for planning to donate a "Noah's Ark" of 150
wild animals - including lions, rhino, cheetah and leopards - to Cuba.
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The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in South
Africa expressed "disgust" at the neighbouring country's plan to capture
the animals and fly them to the Caribbean island.

The project, dubbed "Noah's Ark II", fulfills a promise to the Cuban
government in 2009 during a visit to Namibia by the country's president,
Raul Castro.

The plan is to relocate the animals to Cuba's national zoological park,
on the outskirts of Havana, a place that already holds captive 850
animals over 342 hectares.

"The Namibian and Cuban governments have agreed on the translocation of
146 wild animals, valued at N$7.5-million, as a donation to Cuba,"
reported the newspaper Namibian. The first consignment of the 23
species, including the "big five", will leave for Cuba early in October,
while the last animals will be flown to Cuba next year.

The article added: "A group of Cuban scientists are currently in Namibia
and will stay for the next two weeks to observe the capturing of the
animals."

The Namibian reported that white rhinos and black rhinos would be flown
out. The full list of animals to be translocated to Cuba mentions roan
antelopes, common impalas, greater kudus, Cape elands, gemsbok,
springbok, hartebeest, elephants, buffalos, spotted hyenas, brown
hyenas, lions, porcupines, leopards, black-backed jackals, cheetahs,
caracals, honey badgers, bat-eared foxes, ostriches, and white-backed
vultures.

"It was decided, for veterinary reasons, that warthogs, waterbucks,
wildebeest and zebras will not be exported to Cuba," the paper reported.

Expenditure
The paper quoted Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, the environment and tourism
minister, as saying: "The Namibian taxpayers are footing the bill for
the capturing and transportation of the animals to Cuba and we will only
know the exact expenditure once the project has been completed."

The government had budgeted N$25-million for the relocation of the
animals in the 2011/12 financial year, the paper added. Funds were also
made available for the project for this year.

The animals will be taken from the Waterberg Plateau Park and kept in
temporary enclosures before being flown out.

Nandi-Ndaitwah insisted: "This exercise is being done in accordance with
the Cites requirements and we have to ensure that all animals are
suitable to stay in Cuba."

The scheme has been criticised by wildlife protection activists. The
NSPCA in South Africa said: "[We] express disgust at the Namibian
government's decision to capture animals from the wild for
transportation to Cuba."

The organisation said it was concerned that the long flight would be
stressful for the animals, and it questioned whether their new territory
would be suitable.

The NSPCA said: "It is saddening to note that these animals will be
taken out of their natural habitat and sent to a strange land where they
will be deprived of freedom and be totally dependent on humans for their
daily needs.

"Considering the inhumane culling of seals taking place [off] Namibia at
the moment and the worldwide outcry, this latest action by the Namibian
government and its ministry of environment and tourism raises serious
concerns regarding this country's stance on animal welfare. Perhaps
something for animal lovers to consider when considering Namibia as a
holiday destination."

http://mg.co.za/article/2012-07-11-disgust-over-namibias-plans-to-send-noahs-ark-to-cuba